'Wife Swap' family at center of Stark County double murder investigation

BEACH CITY - Sheriff's Deputies in Stark County are investigating the death of two people, and the attempted suicide of the alleged suspect in Beach City.

The situation surrounds a family that had been featured on ABC's reality show Wife Swap in 2008.

Deputies responded to a 911 hang up call made from the 9100 Block of Dolphin Street on Thursday afternoon. When they arrived just before 5 p.m., they found two people dead.

The victims have been identified as James Stockdale, 21, and his mother, Kathryn Stockdale, 54.

The alleged suspect, 25-year-old Jacob Stockdale, brother of James and son of Kathryn, suffered what deputies believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken by life flight to Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center.

On Friday, Stark County Sheriff's Officials briefed the media on the latest in the investigation

The Stockdale brothers were part of a band called The Stockdale Family Band, along with their other brothers Calvin and Charles. According to the band's Web site, Jacob is described as having once won Ohio's fiddle grand champion. James is described as "the one with the sparkle in his eye that can create excitement when he wants to on stage or off."

Calvin issued the following statement on behalf of the Stockdale family: "My family appreciates the prayers and support we are receiving from our friends and the community. We are mourning the loss of my brother and mother and are waiting to learn more about what transpired yesterday afternoon. While support is appreciated, we ask for privacy as the family deals with this tragic loss."

Here's how the episode of Wife Swap introduced the family: “The Stockdales are devoutly religious, and have banned TV and video games believing it’s their moral responsibility to censor all that their kids watch and listen to.”

Kent State University officials confirm that James Stockdale was a sophomore at the university's Stark County and Tuscarawas campuses. Officials say he studied business management.

Dean Denise Seachrist and Dean Bradley Bielski, who lead the campuses at Kent State University at Stark and Kent State University at Tuscarawas, respectively, gave the following statement on Friday:

We are saddened by the news of the tragic death of one of our students at Kent State University. James was a sophomore business management major who studied at the Tuscarawas and Stark campuses. We offer our sincerest condolences and support to his family, students, staff and faculty and all those who knew James as they deal with this tragedy.

The Stark County Sheriff's Office is continuing their investigation and asks that anyone with information to call 330-430-3800.